Thermochemical transformation of sulfur compounds in Japanese domestic Allium, Allium victorialis L

Sulfur compounds contributed to the health promotion in Allium species are produced via enzymic and thermal reactions. Potent antithrombotic agents which have been identified as allyl trisulfides, dithiins, and ajoene in garlic (A. sativum) and caucas (A. victorialis) are thermochemically transformed from allicin (allyl 2-propenethiosulfinate). The leaves and stems of Japanese domestic Allium plant, A. victorialis L. which is widely distributed in the northern part of Japan, under the name "Gyoja-ninniku" is a nutritious vegetable. The significant flavor compounds of caucas are methyl allyl disulfide (Chinese chive odor), diallyl disulfide (garlic-like odor), and dimethyl disulfide and methyl allyl trisulfide (pickles-like odor) among more than 85 peaks on the gas chromatogram. 2-Vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin and 3,4-dihydro-3-vinyl-1,2-dithiin as platelet aggregation inhibitors were found eliminated in dichloromethane extract of caucas. The significant health promoting factors, allyl trisulfides and dithiins were relatively increased when caucas was cooked on a frying pan.     

Independent chromosomal localization of two different size 5S rDNA of Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum by sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization in accordance with sequence polymorphism

5S rRNA gene repeat units in a species are usually organized as either one relatively close size with numbers of intraspecific variations in NTS region or two different sizes with completely different sequence in NTS. Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum revealed two different size products of approximately 0.39 kb and 0.51 kb with highly conserved coding region of 120 bp. However, an extra sequences of approximately 120 bp between at 324 and 443 bp in long NTS region revealed, besides the remaining sequences of two NTS regions of short and long size were highly conserved giving the identity of 94.9%. To identify whether two different size 5S rDNA are occupied by a mixed state as random repeat or an independent group by each size in a particular locus, two rounds of FISH was sequentially performed using two probes of independent different size 5S rDNA and additional probe of only extra sequences of 120 bp in long NTS. Due to the highly conserved coding regions of both 5S rDNA, two different size 5S rDNA were detected in 3 loci in short arm of chromosome 6, however, extra sequences of long NTS was shown only in one locus within detected 5S rDNA from all examined chromosomes and interphase cells. This independent localization of two different size 5S rDNA suggests that 5S rDNA may be organized as a tandem repeat with random positions in a molecular level, but of cytogenetic view in chromosomes and interphase cells, they are organized as an independent group in a significant loci consisting of own size by the patterns of nucleotide variations.     

Physical mapping of 5S and 18S-26S ribosomal RNA gene families inAllium victorialis var.platyphyllum

A physical map of the 5S and 18S–26S rRNA genes was determined using bi-color fluorescencein situ hybridization technique inA. victorialis var.platyphyllum. 5S rRNA genes were positioned in the intercalary regions of the short arms in homologous chromosomes 6. Two major loci of the 18S-26S rRNA genes were detected in the secondary constrictions flanking with a pair of satellite and terminal region of short arm in chromosome 4. And two additional minor loci were heterotype, representing one signal on the terminal region of the short arm in one homolog of chromsome 2, and other on one homolog of chromosome 6 with linked 5S rRNA loci. In addition chromomycin A₃ (CMA,) fluorescent banding method was used to identify the relation between Nucleolus Organizer Region (NOR) sites and CMA, positive heterochromatin sites. In homologous chromosome 4 showing 18S–26S rDNA hybridization signals revealed also distinct CMA, positive band.     

Introgression of Allium fistulosum L. into Allium cepa L.: cytogenetic evidence

Summary A diploid Allium cepa plant was recovered from the backcross of an interspecific triploid (2 x A. cepa + 1 x A. fistulosum) to an A. cepa diploid which exhibited both A. cepa and A. fistulosum Adh-1 alleles. Cytogenetic analyses revealed a recombinant sub-telocentric chromosome. The ADH-1 locus is believed to be on the long arm of the sub-telocentric A. fistulosum chromosome 5. Meiosis of the triploid progenitor gives strong evidence that recombination occurred. A. fistulosum chromosome 8 has been substituted for A. cepa chromosome 1.Contribution of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Texas Tech University, Journal No. T-4-275     

RAPD Analysis Reveals Geographic Differentiations within Allium schoenoprasum L. (Alliaceae)

Abstract: Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to study the phylogenetic relationships between species in Allium section Schoenoprasum and for the investigation of the intraspecific differentiation of A. schoenoprasum. RAPD analysis of 39 samples representing eight species of sect. Schoenoprasum and one sample of A. atrosanguineum (sect. Annuloprasum ) resulted in 233 interpretable RAPD bands. The analysis clearly distinguishes the species of section Schoenoprasum. The arrangement of the accessions of A. schoenoprasum in all dendrograms mirrors the geographical distribution, with a clear differentiation between an Asian and European subgroup. Within the European group, Scandinavian material is clearly distinct from S and E European material. Informally described morphological types of A. schoenoprasum could not be confirmed by RAPD analysis but represent recurrent ecological adaptations. A combination of phenetic (UPGMA, neighbour-joining analysis), cladistic (parsimony analysis), and statistical (PCA) methods of data analysis resulted in clearer phylogenetic interpretations than each of the methods facilitates when used separately.     

百合科山韭小孢子发生及雄配子体发育

利用石蜡切片对葱属植物山韭(Allium senescens L.)的小孢子发生及雄配子体形成进行了研究.结果表明:山韭花药具4个药室,花药壁由表皮、药室内壁、中层和绒毡层4层细胞组成,属分泌型绒毡层.小孢子母细胞减数分裂的胞质分裂为连续型.成熟花粉为二胞型,偶见三胞型.在小孢子母细胞减数分裂和单核小孢子中出现许多异常行为,如染色体拖曳,落后染色体和后期桥,以及产生微核等,这可能是导致花粉败育的原因之一.     

The Development of Green Onion (Allium Fistulosum L. )Embryo and Endosperm

Embryo development of Zhangqiu green onion conforms to the Asterad type and goes through the following stages: proembryo, globular, ellipsoidal, laterally concave, stick-shaped, and curved and mature. The persistent synergid is present until the late globular stage of embryogenesis. Endosperm development of Zhangqiu green onion follows the nuclear pattern. Endosperm cell formation begins at both the micropylar end and the chalazai end of the embryo sac when the embryo is in the late globular stage. Due to the anticlinal wall formation, a layer of free nuclei becomes a layer of “open cells” which lack the inner periclinat wall. The open cells undergo cell division periclinally, and a layer of complete cells is cut off outside and a new layer of open cells inside. The subsequent cell divisions give rise to the endosperm cells centripetally until those from the opposite of the embryo sac meet. The first anticlinal walls arise from the cell plates without phragmoplasts between the free nuclei in interphase. The first periclinal walls are formed by normal cytokinesis. When a few layers of endosperm cells are formed at the micropylar end and the chalazal end of the embryo sac, free cells are present in the central vacuole.     

Unstable B-chromosomes in a European population of Allium schoenoprasutn L. (Liliaceae)

In Allium schoenoprasum , small, dichromatic B-chromosomes occur in 74% of plants at Lac de Tracens, Pare National des Pyrénées. B-chromosomes from Lac de Tracens were compared with the previously well characterized Bs from British populations of A. schoenoprasum at the River Wye, Powys, and were found to differ in terms of both their morphology and the level of mitotic instability. At Lac de Tracens, two morphological types of B-chromosome were observed: a telocentric of about 1.15 μm in length and a metacentric of about 1.35 μm in length; the most frequent B-type in the River Wye populations (B^-1) was not found. B-chromosomes from the River Wye are essentially stable at root tip mitosis, whereas 25 out of 29 plants from Lac de Tracens (86%) showed between-cell variation in B-number, with non-modal numbers in 330 out of 794 cells (41.6%). Most of the variability occurred within individual roots, rather than between roots of single bulbs or of sister bulbs. No meiotic pairing was observed between the different Bs in hybrids from the geographically isolated populations, suggesting a lack of homology. An independent origin of B-chromosomes in the British and French populations is suggested.     

Distinct Phylogeographic Structures of Wild Radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. raphanistroides Makino) in Japan

Coastal plants with simple linear distribution ranges along coastlines provide a suitable system for improving our understanding of patterns of intra-specific distributional history and genetic variation. Due to the combination of high seed longevity and high dispersibility of seeds via seawater, we hypothesized that wild radish would poorly represent phylogeographic structure at the local scale. On the other hand, we also hypothesized that wild radish populations might be geographically differentiated, as has been exhibited by their considerable phenotypic variations along the islands of Japan. We conducted nuclear DNA microsatellite loci and chloroplast DNA haplotype analyses for 486 samples and 144 samples, respectively, from 18 populations to investigate the phylogeographic structure of wild radish in Japan. Cluster analysis supported the existence of differential genetic structures between the Ryukyu Islands and mainland Japan populations. A significant strong pattern of isolation by distance and significant evidence of a recent bottleneck were detected. The chloroplast marker analysis resulted in the generation of eight haplotypes, of which two haplotypes (A and B) were broadly distributed in most wild radish populations. High levels of variation in microsatellite loci were identified, whereas cpDNA displayed low levels of genetic diversity within populations. Our results indicate that the Kuroshio Current would have contributed to the sculpting of the phylogeographic structure by shaping genetic gaps between isolated populations. In addition, the Tokara Strait would have created a geographic barrier between the Ryukyu Islands and mainland Japan. Finally, extant habitat disturbances (coastal erosion), migration patterns (linear expansion), and geographic characteristics (small islands and sea currents) have influenced the expansion and historical population dynamics of wild radish. Our study is the first to record the robust phylogeographic structure in wild radish between the Ryukyu Islands and mainland Japan, and might provide new insight into the genetic differentiation of coastal plants across islands.     

Morphological and embryological characters of three middle Asian Allium L. species (Alliaceae)

Morphological and embryological characters of the xerophilous species Allium crystallinum Vved., A. filidens Regel, and A. fritschii Khassanov et Yengalycheva (Allium subg. Allium) were compared. The morphology of flowers, the rate of development of male and female embryonic structures and correlations with bud dimensions were studied. The overall similarity of the embryonic processes and structures underlines the close taxonomic relationship of the species investigated as concluded from morphological and anatomical characters. However, several differences in embryological characters between A. filidens and A. fritschii confirm the separation of the latter species at species level.     

大蒜化学成分的气-质联用分析

本文采用环己烷、乙酸乙酯和正丁醇对大蒜（Allium sativum L.）新鲜鳞茎的95%乙醇提取物进行萃取,并与水蒸气蒸馏法提取的挥发油成分进行比较,用GC-MS对其成分进行定性和定量分析.在环己烷萃取物中共检出112个成分,鉴定了38个化合物,占环己烷萃取物总量的80.08%;在乙酸乙酯萃取物中检出86个成分,鉴定了26个化合物,占乙酸乙酯萃取物总量的56.70%;在正丁醇萃取物中未检出挥发性成分.在水蒸气蒸馏法提取的挥发油中共检出109个成分,鉴定了29个化合物,占挥发油总量的83.58%.大蒜95%乙醇提取物的环己烷和乙酸乙酯萃取物及大蒜挥发油中皆以含硫化合物为主.在环己烷和乙酸乙酯萃取物中,阿霍烯的含量分别为生药的0.00395%和0.00145%,大蒜中阿霍烯含量达0.00540%.     

新蹄盖蕨--一个细齿角蕨的不必要组合

新蹄盖蕨具有长而横卧的根状茎,其叶轴、羽轴及小羽轴下面被有单细胞短毛及多细胞长毛,孢子囊群裸露、椭圆形或圆形,以及孢子周壁表面具褶皱状突起等特征与角蕨属植物相似;叶绿体DNA trnL-F区序列和rbcL序列分析结果均显示新蹄盖蕨与角蕨属成员的亲缘关系密切;新蹄盖蕨与角蕨属的染色体数目也相同。所有形态特征、细胞学及分子学资料均表明新蹄盖蕨属不成立,该种植物属于角蕨属,应恢复其名称“细齿角蕨”。     

Inhibition of Some Rot Fungi Polygalacturonases by Allium cepa L. and Allium porrum L. Extracts

Extracts of Allium cepa and A. porrum - contain factors that inhibit to various extents polygalacturonases (PGs) produced in vitro by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium moniliforme, Phoma terrestris, Sclerotium cepivorum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Didymella bryoniae and Phoma lycopersici. The PG inhibition rank changed using leek or onion extract. The inhibition factors are possibly proteins, do not present particular specificity and act against PGs of fungi pathogens and non pathogens for these plant species.     

Interspecific hybrids between onion (Allium cepa L.) with S-cytoplasm and leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.)

 Interspecific hybrids between Allium cepa and A. ampeloprasum have been generated as a first step for the introduction of S-cytoplasm from onion into leek. Pre-zygotic barriers of crossability were observed after the arrival of pollen tubes at the end of the style when entering the cavity. Nevertheless, micropyle penetration of pollen tubes and the formation of hybrid embryos were also observed. After accomplishing in vitro culture of ovaries and ovules successively, triploid hybrid plants with 24 chromosomes were obtained. Their hybrid nature was confirmed by RAPD analysis, genomic in situ hybridization, and morphological analysis. Southern hybridization with a cytoplasmic probe indicated the transfer of unaltered S-cytoplasm into the hybrid plants. Received: 9 May 1996 / Accepted: 23 August 1996     

The amino acid sequence of cytochrome c from Allium porrum L. (leek)

The amino acid sequence of leek cytochrome c was determined with 0.4μmol of protein. The sequence was deduced solely from a chymotryptic digest. The cytochrome was homologous with other plant cytochromes c of mitochondrial origin. Leek cytochrome c has an N-acetylated `tail' as compared with mammalian cytochrome c, and two residues of ε-N-trimethyl-lysine. Unlike other plant cytochromes c, leek cytochrome c has glutamic acid or glutamine in position 11, leucine in position 20 and alanine in position 51. 4-Hydroxyproline partially substitutes for proline in position 79. Experimental details are given in a supplementary paper that has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50012, at the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1973) 131, 5.     

Il genere Allium L. in Italia. IV. Studio citofotometrico sul granulo pollinico di Allium Chamaemoly L.

Abstract

The genus Allium L. in Italy. IV. A DNA cytophotometric study on the pollen grain of Allium chamaemoly L. — A cytophotometric analysis of DNA contents in pollen generative and vegetative nuclei of Allium chamaemoly L. was carried out. DNA synthesis in both nuclei was confirmed and a lightly higher DNA amount than 2C in the vegetative nucleus was pointed out. An analysis of the Fast-green stainable histones in the generative and vegetative nuclei was also accomplished. While the generative nucleus had a very high content of Fast-green stainable histone, the vegetative one have nearly no stainable histone. The occurrence of DNA synthesis and the very low histone content suggest the vegetative nucleus is functional and biochemically activ. The higher than 2C DNA content supports the possibility of a DNA amplification process including probably the amplification of ribosomal cistrons in the pollen vegetative nucleus.     

Photosynthetic characteristics of three ploidy levels of Allium oleraceum L. (Amaryllidaceae) differing in ecological amplitude

To elucidate the mechanisms of the adaptive advantages of polyploidy, there is a need to identify physiological traits that participate in the success of polyploids. We studied selected photosynthetic characteristics, stomatal density, and specific leaf area of three ploidy levels (2n = 4x, 5x, 6x) of the geophyte Allium oleraceum that partially differ in their ecological niches. Although the cytotypes were on average similar with regard to most of the measured photosynthetic traits, the hexaploids showed more rapid initial photosynthetic induction and a tendency for a higher maximum photosynthetic rate per unit area. The stomatal density was not affected by ploidy, though the specific leaf area was reduced for the hexaploids compared to the other cytotypes. A lower intracytotype variation was found for most of the studied photosynthetic and anatomical traits for the hexaploids compared to the large variation found within other cytotypes. A comparison of the photosynthetic traits between the cytotypes showed that the ecological differentiation between cytotypes is only weakly related to the characteristics of their photosynthetic apparatus. However, contrasting ranges of variability in the measured traits between the cytotypes can be related to previously observed differences between cytotypes with regard to the ranges of intracytotype genetic variation, genome size variation, and niche breadth. A higher variability of photosynthetic traits in tetraploids and pentaploids may be related to the existence of a spectrum of types adapted to different environmental conditions. Hexaploids may represent a recently formed cytotype adapted to open environmental conditions.     

New mannose-specific lectins from garlic (Allium sativum) and ramsons (Allium ursinum) bulbs.

Two new mannose-binding lectins were isolated from garlic (Allium sativum, ASA) and ramsons (Allium ursinum, AUA) bulbs, of the family Alliaceae, by affinity chromatography on immobilized mannose. The carbohydrate-binding specificity of these two lectins was studied by quantitative precipitation and hapten-inhibition assay. ASA reacted strongly with a synthetic linear (1----3)-alpha-D-mannan and S. cerevisiae mannan, weakly with a synthetic (1----6)-alpha-D-mannan, and failed to precipitate with galactomannans from T. gropengiesseri and T. lactis-condensi, a linear mannopentaose, and murine IgM. On the other hand, AUA gave a strong reaction of precipitation with murine IgM, and good reactions with S. cerevisiae mannan and both synthetic linear mannans, suggesting that the two lectins have somewhat different binding specificities for alpha-D-mannosyl units. Of the saccharides tested as inhibitors of precipitation, those with alpha-(1----3)-linked mannosyl units were the best inhibitors of ASA, the alpha-(1----2)-, alpha-(1----4)-, and alpha-(1----6)-linked mannobioses and biosides having less than one eighth the affinity of the alpha-(1----3)-linked compounds. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of ASA exhibits 79% homology with that of AUA, and moderately high homology (53%) with that of snowdrop bulb lectin, also an alpha-D-mannosyl-binding lectin.     

Genecological notes on Allium schoenoprasum L.

Summary

Ajuga pyramidalis is a polycarpic, perennial herb which is variable in flowering and population size. It has been recorded from over 200 sites in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, one in the Lake District and in twelve coastal sites in Ireland. It grows mainly on circum-neutral soils (pH 4.9–6.9) in open grassland and heathland, and upland rock ledges. It does not appear to be under any particular threat in Britain.